Violence, freedom of decision, marriage. How do Armenian women live?

Currently, women in Armenia have an average of 1.7 children. Since 2000, the birth rate has remained stable. 

“Research on Demographics and Health Issues 2015-16″ published by the RA National Statistical Service. main results” report states that birth rates differ significantly by marze, from 1.1 births per woman in Aragatsotn and Gegharkunik to 2.4 births per woman in Tavush.

Fertility decreases as a woman’s educational level increases. Thus, among women with only basic education, this ratio is 2.8 births per woman, while among those with higher education, it is 1.6 births per woman. 

In Armenia, women and men start sexual life at almost the same age. For women and men aged 25-49, the median age at first intercourse is 21.2. This means that half of women and men start having sex before the age of 21.2, and the other half after the age of 21.2. Among women with primary education, the median age at first intercourse is 18.6, while among those with tertiary education, it is 23.9. There is no clear relationship between men’s age at first intercourse and their level of education.

The median age of women at first marriage is 21.4, that is, shortly after becoming sexually active. Men are getting married at an older age. Among men aged 30-49, the median age at marriage is 25.9. Women’s median age at first marriage rises sharply with increasing educational attainment, to 18.8 years among women with primary education and 24.1 among those with tertiary education. 

Women give birth for the first time about 1.5 years after marriage. median age at first birth is 22.8. Median age varies significantly by region. Thus, compared to women living in Gegharkunik, the median age of women living in Yerevan at the time of first childbirth is about 3 years older.

The authors note that 9 out of 10 married women who receive cash pay decide how they will use their earnings; 28 percent of them decide independently, and 67 percent jointly with their spouse. Two-thirds of women earn less than their husbands.

Data on abused women are also provided. Thus, one in seven women who have ever been married have experienced some form of emotional, physical or sexual abuse by their husband. 8 percent of women experienced spousal violence in the past 12 months.

Three out of ten ever-married women in Ararat experienced spousal violence, compared to about 1 percent of women in Syunik. The proportion of women who have been abused by their husbands decreases as the woman’s level of education increases, being 24 percent among women with basic education and 9 percent among women with higher education.

As for the incidence of sexual violence, the report notes that 1 percent of women aged 15-49 have ever been sexually assaulted, and less than 1 percent have been assaulted in the past 12 months. Women in Aragatsotn were subjected to sexual violence the most (4 percent). 

6 percent of women aged 15-49 have ever been physically abused since age 15, and 3 percent have been abused in the past 12 months. Women in Aragatsotn were most subjected to physical violence during the last 12 months (14 percent).

It said that 29 percent of women who had ever been physically or sexually abused had sought help to stop the abuse, while the same proportion of women had never sought help but had told someone about the abuse. 4 out of 10 women who have been physically or sexually abused never sought help or told anyone about the abuse.